“I have looked at you.”
“You haven’t.”
She sighed. “I’m hungry and tired. I have low blood sugar. I just came back from a long run and I have a big day tomorrow. I can’t afford any distractions, Zale. I appreciate that the two of you are in trouble. Maybe the fate of the world is in your hands, I don’t know, but I have to keep myself under control. Whatever the two of you are into, I can’t be a part of it. I’m not in your world and you’re not in mine.”
There was a small silence. Rainier broke it. “I’m sorry, Vienna. We needed medical attention, and Zale mentioned you were a nurse. We couldn’t go to the hospital, and you were on the same floor. You were going to meet me at the wedding anyway, so it wasn’t like you weren’t going to find out I was working undercover with Zale. We didn’t mean to drag you into our problems.”
She felt a little ashamed. It wasn’t as if she didn’t want to help them, especially when they both were hurt. She shrugged. “I don’t really mind helping out. It’s just that I know I’m not supposed to know what you do, and I respect that. Like I said, I’m just tired and hungry. I’ll call in the order so we can get our food.”
Zale had removed his arm, so she took that as permission to make a break for the phone. While she gave their orders for dinner, Zale made another drink for Rainier and himself. She took the sparkling water from him and sank into the single cuddle chair across from him, putting her head back to stare up at the ceiling.
“I guess whatever you’re into is dangerous. If your cover is blown, shouldn’t you pack up and go home?”
“Not necessarily,” Rainier said. “No one saw the attack in the parking lot. We’re betting the three die before they report to their boss. They aren’t going to be too quick to tell whoever they report to they missed an old man, and the lone personal protector wiped up the floor with them. At least, that’s the hope.”
Vienna studied the ceiling. “You’re betting your lives.”
“This is Vegas,” Rainier said, humor once again tingeing his voice.
Vienna let the air move in and out of her lungs. Waiting. It was a bet. A wager. It didn’t matter that lives were at stake, it came down to a bet. Three men were somewhere slowly bleeding internally. They were unaware they were dying. Would they call their boss and report to him or her that they had failed to kill their intended target? What were the odds? There were three of them. They wouldn’t die at the same time. They each had a cell phone. The boss could call them. They’d grow cold. Weak. Would they try to call for help?
Vienna nodded her head slowly. “I do believe you have a good chance those men won’t admit their screwup to their boss. By the time they realize what’s happening, it’s going to be too late.” She knew things. How? She had no idea, only that she could bet on cards because she knew what each opponent had in his hand and what card the dealer would put down next. Bets were tricky things. “But there are a lot of variables. Their boss might just show up last minute.”
Rainier laughed softly. “I was feeling good for a minute there. You just shot that down.”
“That’s the nature of the gambling beast,” Vienna said, joining in his laughter.
“You seem to do fairly well. Did you expect to make it to the semifinals?”
“I expect to win,” Vienna said. “I’ve been playing for quite a few years now. It isn’t like I just walked in off the street. I was invited to the tournament, and it just so happened that Stella wanted to do a few fun things in Vegas, so I thought I’d come ahead of the rest of my friends and do a little work. I prefer to play online.”
“Why is that?” Rainier asked.
“I’m not terribly fond of having my photograph plastered all over the casino. I like to sneak around under the radar. You should know something about that. You don’t even use your real name.”
Was Zale even his real name? Had she slept with someone and she had no idea who he was? Probably. She didn’t look at him. She detested that she meant nothing to him at all when, in her mind, he’d been the one. She had never been that kind of woman. She didn’t build fantasies around men. She’d never grown up thinking she needed a man to rescue her or complete her. She worked hard and took care of her mother and herself. She was happy. Zale had been . . . unexpected.
There was a knock at the door. Zale snapped his fingers and indicated for Rainier to go to the other room. Both men were suddenly all business, expressions sober and weapons out. Zale concealed himself in the shadow of the bathroom off the living room. He left the door partially open in order to cover her.
The cart was rolled in and the dinner put on the dining room table. Plates and silverware were used, not Styrofoam takeout containers. Linen napkins were set beside each dish along with wineglasses and water glasses. When the servers left, she made certain the door was properly locked while both men took out small devices to check the room for any listening bugs.
Vienna seated herself at the table. “Interesting way you have to live.”
“We don’t usually live around other people,” Rainier said.
She nodded. “I’d forgotten that. Sam’s been away from it for quite a long time. We’re used to him. He doesn’t talk much, but he participates. He goes to the bar with us. Most of the time, he’s our sober driver, and he gets an earful. He works at the resort and fishing camp, but he normally works alone, unless he partners with Stella.”
She took a bite of her food. She’d forgotten how hungry she was. She decided less talking and more eating was in order.
“Sam just walked off the job one day,” Rainier said. “He was like that. He’d make up his mind to do something, and you couldn’t talk him out of it. He wouldn’t argue with you, he’d just do it.” He indicated Zale with his fork. “He’s like that. Decides and that’s it.”
“What’s there to argue about?” Zale said.
“There’s nothing wrong with discussions,” Vienna said, savoring the roasted brussels sprouts. “Discussions are fun.”
“That’s not the same as arguing,” Zale said. “Arguments lead nowhere and usually end up in hurt feelings.”
“This is good steak,” Rainier declared. “As in great. Notice, there’s no arguing on the subject.”